This year I've decided to sketch many of The Great Holy Men and Women of the Church. Come along with me on this journey as we get to know our elder brothers and sisters in faith.

"And therefore we also having so great a cloud of witnesses over our head, laying aside every weight and sin which surrounds us, let us run by patience to the fight proposed to us," Heb 12:1

John Chrysostom

September 12

(Gregorian Calendar)

November 13 (Julian Calendar)

John Chrysostom (c. 347-407) (Greek: Ἰωάννης ὁ Χρυσόστομος) was born in Antioc (modern day Turkey) to Greek parents. Different scholars describe his mother Anthusa as a Christian and his father was a high ranking military officer. The epithet Χρυσόστομος (Chrysostomos, anglicized as Chrysostom) means "golden-mouthed" in Greek and was given on account of his legendary eloquence. In his tenure as Patriarch of Constantinople he became known for his preaching and public speaking, his denunciation of abuse of authority by both ecclesiastical and political leaders within the Byzantine Empire as well as his reform of worship in the Greek Church, and most especially for his ascetic sensibilities. He is the patron saint of orators and preachers.